Counter-attachable beverage dispenser



Jan. 11, 1966 H. H. HARR COUNTER-ATTACHABLE BEVERAGE DISPENSER FiledOct. 12, 1964 FIG.

INVENTOR. HERMAN H. HARR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,228,568COUNTER-ATTACHABLE BEVERAGE DISPENSER Herman H. Harr, 238 Fells Road,Essex Fells, NJ. Filed Oct. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 403,212 Claims. (Cl.222-183) This invention deals with a dispenser which is attachable to afountain counter and which is used for dispensing carbonated oruncarbonated beverages. More specifically, it relates to a dispenserhaving a relatively high hollow frame base with an opening for egress ofthe beverage concentrate or syrup discharge tube, and a support meanswhich combines the features of a lateral positioner and support for saidframe, as well as a support for the faucet.

In copending application Serial No. 324,069, filed on November 15, 1963,by Herman H. Harr, now Patent No. 3,204,830, there is described a drinkdispenser counter attachment having a low frame designed to holdbeverage concentrate flowing from an inverted bottle of concentratedisposed thereover. Attached to this frame is a support therefor as wellas for the faucet used for dispensing the beverage. The faucet isdesigned to dispense either carbonated or uncarbonated water alone, or amixture of syrup and water. The dispenser described herein is designedto be used with a faucet of this type. However, the present dispenseraffords a number of valuable features not enjoyed by that disclosed inthe aforesaid application. For example, the beverages are dispensedabove the counter. Also, a much simpler and yet sturdier support isprovided having multiple utility features.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing in which a preferred embodiment is described, andin which FIGURE 1 presents a side elevational view of a preferredembodiment of the present invention, in condition to receive an invertedbottle of syrup, when it is ready for the dispensing of beverages.FIGURE 2 illustrates a top or plan view of the embodiment shown inFIGURE 1, minus the faucet, while FIGURE 3 depicts a bottom view of theunit shown in FIGURE 2. FIGURE 4 shows an enlarged cross-sectional sideelevational view of a portion of the dispenser taken along a plane alongline 4-4 of FIGURE 1, with the faucet cut away. FIG- URE 5 illustrates aside View of the upper portion of a different embodiment of a mountingunit of the present invention, while FIGURE 6 depicts a side viewthereof. FIGURE 7 shows a top or plan cross-sectional view of the upperclamp and housing portions of another embodiment, while FIGURE 8presents a cross-sectional side view of the portion illustrated inFIGURE 7. The same numerals refer to similar parts in the variousfigures.

Referring again to the drawing, numeral 10 represents a hollow shellframe or base, made of a hard plastic, metal, or the like, and having acentrally disposed indentation or corrugation 11 serving as a stop forconcentrate receptacle 12, and for strengthening said frame. Theconcentrate receptacle has a closed bottom 13 provided with an outletnipple 14. The upper portion of receptacle 12 is open, and its upperedge is provided with a resilient bumper channel strip 15, on whichrests the inverted bottle of concentrate or syrup (not shown).

A hole 16 is provided in constricted portion 11 of base 10 forpermitting extension therethrough of tube 17 carrying concentrate fromnipple 14. Also, a larger hole 18 is provided in the lower wall portionof base 10 for mounting therein of the dispensing faucet, designatedgenerally as 19.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting or support for base 10 and faucet 19comprises a U-shaped clamp 20 which 3,228,568 Patented Jan. 11, 1966 ismounted over the edge 21' of a counter 21. The upper side 22 of clamp 20rests on top of counter 21, and on its end is attached positioning andstrengthening arm 23 pivoted at its center by pivot 24. Arm 23 has alength substantially equal to the inner diameter of frame 10, and thusserves both as a positioning member and as a support for the hollowshell of frame 10. Thumbscrew 25 mounted on arm 26 of clamp 20 insures atight grip on counter 21, which grip is insured by lock nut 27.

Although arm 23, projecting away from each side of clamp top 22 isgenerally adequate as a strengthening and positioning element for base10, an additional arm 23' may be attached to pivot 24 at right angles toarm 23, for additional strengthening and support of shell base 10. Also,as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, arms 23a and 23b may be used in lieu ofpivoted arm 23 for the same purposes. In this case, the ends of the armsare driven into holes 34 and 35 drilled into the sides of clamp top 22.

Welded to the upper rear vertical portion of clamp 20 at its lower endis a vertically-directed supporting and mounting plate 28 which has ahole 29 for mounting therein of faucet 19. Faucet 19 is separated fromplate 28 by a Washer and it project-s beyond the edge 21' of counter 21,so as to leave adequate room to permit entry therethrough of tube 30which carries water, under pressure, to faucet 19, via connectingcoupling 31. The faucet is held in place by means of nut 32. Tube 17 hasits discharge end connected to concentrate inlet 33 of faucet 19;

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, plate 28 may be made separable from clamp 20,to which it is attachable by means of screws or bolts 36. This isdesirable if receptacle 12 and base 10 are made of one piece, so thatclamp 20 may be separated from plate 28 to facilitate adjustment ofcoupling 31 and nut 32. If desired, plate 28 may be made as a part ofbase 10 during the manufacture or molding thereof.

Although the base-supporting arms 23 have been shown as afiixed to theclamp top 22, it is possible to employ arms which are not affixed to theclamp. For example, in FIGS. 7-8, there is shown a heavy formed springwire, indicated generally as 37, which has a straight central portion 38disposed against the front end of clamp top 22. Spring 37 has two ends39 and 40 which are ent partially around the sides of clamp top 22, andthen curved forwardly and outwardly, terminating against the inner wallof base 10 with short upwardly directed ends 41 and 42. The spring 37 isslightly longer than the internal diameter of base 10. In mounting thespring, straight portion 38 is set against the end of clamp top 22 whilethe spring is in tilted position. Then, the ends are lowered, whichaction causes the ends 41 and 42 to be drawn tightly against the wall ofbase 10. The bends in spring ends 39 and 40 serve to lock the spring inposition against the end of clamp arm 22.

The unit of the present invention is mounted by attaching clamp 20 ontobase 10 and then mounting faucet 19 onto arm 28 and base 10. Then, theunit is attached to counter edge 21' in the manner indicated, and tube30 is led within base 10, and is then connected to faucet end 30.Thereafter, tube 17 extending from nipple 14, is led through hole 16 inbase 10 and its end is attached to concentrate inlet 33 of faucet 19.Finally, concentrate receptacle 12 is inserted in the upper portion ofbase 10, and a bottle of concentrate (not shown) is inserted in invertedposition in receptacle 12. The dispenser is now ready for use.

Handle 34 of faucet 19 is manipulated, so that either water (carbonatedor uncarbonated) or a mixture of concentrate and water are dischargedthrough outlet 35 of the faucet. For ordinary fountain counters, base 10may be about 5%" high and of 5%," inside diameter.

This size accommodates the conventional concentrate bottle. Clamp 20maybe made of A steel stock, about 2 wide, while plate 28 may be of 7steel stock about 1 /2" wide and extending 1 /2" above clamp arm 22. Itmay be attached to clamp 20 by A" bolts.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the dispenser of the presentinvention offers a minimum of parts and avoids a frame of excessivethickness. Yet, the unit is adequately sturdy, it permits dispensingabove the counter, andenables ready assembly and disassembly.

I claim:

1. A counter-attachable beverage dispenser to be used with a dispensingfaucet attachable thereto, comprising,

a hollow shell base designed to hold in its upper portion, a concentratereceptacle provided with a drain tube in its bottom, said base having ahole in its wall serving as an outlet for a concentrate drain tube, tobe connected to a faucet and also having a faucet-mounting hole in itslower portion,

a clamp disposed under said base and designed to be aflixed to the edgeof a counter,

a plate projecting upwardly from the rear portion of said clamp andhaving a faucet-mounting hole in lateral alignment with said basefaucet-mounting hole, and

at least two arms projecting laterally from the upper portion of saidclamp within the center of said base and extending to said base, andserving as positioners and lateral supports for said base.

2. A counter-attachable beverage dispenser to be used with a dispensingfaucet attachable thereto, comprising,

a hollow round shell base designed to hold, in its upper portion, aconcentrate receptacle provided with a drain tube in its bottom, saidbase having a hole in its wall serving as an outlet for a concentratedrain tube to be connected to a faucet, and also having afaucet-mounting hole in its lower portion below said outlet tube,

a clamp disposed under said base and designed to be affixed to the edgeof a counter,

a plate projecting upwardly from the rear portion of said clamp andhaving a faucet-mounting hole in lateral alignment with said basefaucet-mounting hole, and

a pair of oppositely-directed arms projecting laterally from the upperportion of said clamp within the center of said base and extending ateach side to said base and serving as a positioner and lateral supportfor said base.

3. A counter-attachable beverage dispenser according to claim 2, inwhich the base has a lateral inner corrugation serving as a support fora concentrate receptacle, said base being positioned slightly over theedge of said counter to provide entry space therein for a water supplytube.

4. A counter-attachable beverage dispenser to be used with a dispenserfaucet attachable thereto, comprising,

a hollow shell base designed to hold, in its upper portion, aconcentrate receptacle provided with a drain tube in its bottom, saidbase having a faucet-mounting hole in its lower portion to accommodate afaucet 'connectable to a concentrate drain tube,

a clamp, having a top portion, and disposed under said base and designedto be affixed to the edge of a counter, and

a plate projecting upwardly from the rear portion of said clamp andhaving a faucet-mounting hole in lateral alignment with said basefaucet-mounting hole.

5. A counter-attachable beverage dispenser according to claim 4, and aformed wire spring fitting in locking relation against the forward endof the clamp top and having extending ends disposable in thrust relationagainst the inside of said base.

References Cited by the Examiner LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A COUNTER-ATTACHABLE BEVERAGE DISPENSER TO BE USED WITH A DISPENSINGFAUCET ATTACHABLE THERETO, COMPRISING, A HOLLOW SHELL BASE DESIGNED TOHOLD IN ITS UPPER PORTION, A CONCENTRATE RECEPTACLE PROVIDED WITH ADRAIN TUBE IN ITS BOTTOM, SAID BASE HAVING A HOLE IN ITS WALL SERVING ASAN OUTLET FOR A CONCENTRATE DRAIN TUBE, TO BE CONNECTED TO A FAUCET ANDALSO HAVING A FAUCET-MOUNTING HOLE IN ITS LOWER PORTION, A CLAMPDISPOSED UNDER SAID BASE AND DESIGNED TO BE AFFIXED TO THE EDGE OF ACOUNTER, A PLATE PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM THE REAR PORTION OF SAID CLAMPAND HAVING A FAUCET-MOUNTING HOLE IN LATERAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BASEFAUCET-MOUNTING HOLE, AND AT LEAST TWO ARMS PROJECTING LATERALLY FROMTHE UPPER PORTION OF SAID CLAMP WITHIN THE CENTER OF SAID BASE ANDEXTENDING TO SAID BASE, AND SERVING AS POSITIONERS AND LATERAL SUPPORTSFOR SAID BASE.